John "Jack" Lewis

John “Jack” Frederick Lewis passed away peacefully at his home in Troy, NY. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Shirley Jean Bond Lewis; his four children, Sharon April Lewis (Sandi), Dorothy Keast (Don), John M. Lewis (Sue) and Polly Karis (Art); six grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren. 

Born in Saratoga Springs, NY, Jack was raised in Round Lake and entered the Naval Air Force in 1943. He graduated from RPI in 1950 with a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and worked as a Nuclear Research Engineer at RPI for forty years. 

He and Shirley met as youngsters and were married in 1949. Their only mode of transportation in the early years of their marriage was a 1946 Indian motorcycle; they rode precariously through the snowy, hilly streets of Troy. They later bought a home on the Poestenkill escarpment where they raised their four children and instilled in them the love of nature. There Jack taught his children the constellations in the sky and the proper way to plant tomatoes. Every morning in the summer, Jack swam in his meticulously maintained pool. Countless hours were spent with his children bent over jigsaw puzzles. 

Jack, the consummate engineer-tinkerer, was always looking for innovative solutions to technical problems. He played a major role in the restoration of Round Lake Auditorium’s 1847 Ferris Tracker organ by creating special tools and replicating parts for the instrument to restore it to its original magnificence.

In their retired years, Jack and Shirley traveled the east coast in their monstrous RV, with diminutive Shirley doing most of the driving. They spent many years wintering in Salt Springs, FL. Jack and Shirley lived on the mountain for 60 years before moving back to Troy. 

Jack’s descendants will remember him for his plaid shirts and bad jokes.

Funeral services will be private. Please visit www.wynantskillfh.com.

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